Reginald Thomas is the Democratic nominee for open 13th Senate seat

Former 88th House District candidate Reginald Thomas will represent the Democrats in the special election December 10 to replace former Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, in the 13th state Senate seat.

Stein accepted an appointment to a Fayette County Family Court judgeship earlier this week – opening the Senate seat.

Thomas is a lawyer and associate professor of social work at Kentucky State University, and worked himself into a race in the 88th House District in 2012 which has been a stronghold for Republicans.

In an interview with Pure Politics Thomas said if nominated he would work just as hard to win the seat as he did in the previous campaign when he knocked on doors in all of the precincts in the district. Thomas even outraised his Republican counterpart in that race.

In a phone interview after the nomination Thomas told Pure Politics he plans on knocking on doors in all 98 precincts in the truncated special election.

“I’m ready to go to work,” Thomas said. “It’s about winning the election and convincing voters I’m the best person for the job.”

The 13th District covers downtown Lexington and favors Democrats. Stein was known as one of the most liberal lawmakers in the General Assembly.

Thomas said he isn’t taking anything for granted in the election.

Fayette County Republicans told Pure Politics that they would hold their nominating meeting on Monday night.

About Nick Storm

Nick Storm is the Anchor and Managing Editor of Pure Politics, the only nightly program dedicated to Kentucky politics. Nick covers all of the political heavyweights and his investigative work brings to light issues that might otherwise go unnoticed, like the connection between the high profile Steubenville, Ohio rape and a Kentucky hacker whose push for further investigation could put him in federal prison. Nick is also working on a feature length bio documentary Outlaw Poet: A documentary on Ron Whitehead. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickStorm_cn2. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@charter.com.